An illustration of some of the participating dogs (Illustration: Instagram/@scribblesbyshreya); (right) Dogelina (Photo: Instagram/@fatdogsofdelhi) Delhi has a new obsession, and it comes with jowls. The battle for the fattest dog in Delhi has dog lovers firmly gripped. The face-off to crown the plumpest pooch of them all has people debating, running full PR campaigns for their favourites and sharing some of the most adorable pictures you'll see all week. Instagram page Fat Dogs of Delhi is hosting a fiercely fought competition, with 64 dogs nominated for the crown and more than 86.9K followers already on board. The quarter-final poll is now open, and the contenders are Googoo, Moti, Mahakutteshwar, Tara, Hero, Rambabu, Gold and C.R.S. A quick scroll through the page drops you straight into a world of gloriously chunky Delhi dogs, all submitted by their people. The names alone are worth the follow. Meet Kutta Singh, Dahi Bhalli and Dogelina. Then there are the campaign posters, which will light up any dog lover's feed. One shows a Labrador called Chewbacca Raza Singh on the cover of Dogue magazine. The next slide introduces Chewbacca, lovingly known as Chewy, with a blurb that reads: "With the Fat Dog of Delhi finale fast approaching, one contender has remained remarkably focused on the prize, and on the snacks served along the way." It goes on: "But behind every serious contender is a strategy. For Chewy, that strategy is simple: eat well, rest often and never underestimate the importance of a strategically timed snack." Read More: Crowns and Couture: The Royal Roots of India's Luxury Obsession The contest takes its cue from Fat Bear Week, the annual event that pits the rotund residents of Katmai National Park and Preserve against each other for the title of most oversized ursine. This year, 16 bears are competing, and the public can watch them on explore.org's livestream cameras before picking a favourite. Dogs from across Delhi NCR are eligible, with owners and caregivers uploading their snaps, the dog's name and their locality. There's a sad twist, too. Gola aka Kabab aka Rajpal Singh, a beloved fixture of SDA Market in Hauz Khas, has passed away before the finale. Remarkably, he is still leading the poll with 731 of 2,049 predictions, or 35.7 per cent, at the time of writing. Fellow heavyweight Tara has also died, and the page has shared tribute posts for them both. The grand finale takes place on 29 September. May the chonkiest one win. Namya is a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of experience. A graduate of Miranda House, Delhi University, and Boston University's College o... View More